ЮАР. Travel digest

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg invites families to enjoy a three‑day Easter programme created by Executive Chef Rudi Liebenberg and Pastry Chef Nathan Jacobs. The celebration combines seasonal cuisine, special activities for children, and exclusive in‑room perks.

Afternoon Tea (21 March – 12 April 2026) – Served on the VIEW and VIEW Terrace, the menu features

On 20 March 2026, Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg will welcome guests for an exclusive dinner featuring the wines of Atlas Swift, a boutique South African producer renowned for its terroir‑driven approach.

Martin and Welma Smith, the husband‑and‑wife team behind Atlas Swift, cultivate a single grape variety in five distinct Cape regions. Each parcel yields a wine

As Valentine’s Day draws near, Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg highlights its unique setting – a terrace perched above the city’s urban forest – to create a series of elevated romantic experiences.

Dinner Among the Lights
Guests can enjoy a special Valentine’s menu at Flames Restaurant for ZAR 2,145 per person. The multi‑course dinner begins with an

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg has officially opened its new Destination Lobby and Lobby Lounge, marking the final stage of a multi‑year refurbishment that began in 2023. The project, backed by a US$25 million investment, was carried out in partnership with owners ASB Hospitality and Hotel Properties Limited.

The new spaces are intended to serve as the city’s largest

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff marks the annual Jacaranda blossom in Johannesburg with a signature Afternoon Tea, complemented by optional private helicopter flights that showcase the city’s violet canopy.

Pastry Chef Nathan Jacobs has crafted a menu that respects classic tea service while adding contemporary touches inspired by the colours and textures of the Jacaranda season.

Effective immediately, Slovene citizens can travel to South Africa without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, provided the visit is for tourism or similar short‑term purposes.

The exemption does not cover trips made for study, employment, long‑term business, family reunification, medical treatment, or other specific purposes, as stated by the Slovenian Foreign Ministry on 16 September.

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg has opened a new Grand Ballroom, designed as a versatile venue for celebrations, meetings and curated experiences. Situated high above the city, the space offers sweeping panoramic views of Johannesburg’s skyline and urban forest, while providing easy motorway access and ample parking.

The ballroom is built to host landmark events,

South Africa has decided to allow Croatian nationals to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, according to a statement from Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The change follows intensified diplomatic dialogue, led by Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, and coordinated actions by the ministry and the Croatian embassy in Pretoria.

Bilateral

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, a longstanding symbol of luxury in Johannesburg, is launching an extensive culinary overhaul. Situated on the Witwatersrand Ridge in the prestigious Westcliff district, the hotel aims to refresh its food and beverage concept while preserving its iconic status.

The centerpiece of this initiative is the appointment of Chef Rudi Liebenberg as Executive

South African Airways (SAA) will inaugurate its first direct service between Cape Town and Mauritius on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, marking a strategic expansion of its network and enhancing connectivity for travelers in the Western Cape. This milestone underscores SAA’s continued commitment to connectivity, customer choice, and strategic growth.

“Connecting Cape Town with Mauritius is a

Condor has announced expansion plans for its air services from Frankfurt to Asian destinations during the northern hemisphere winter timetable for 2025 and 2026, which kicks in October and closes on 31 March or early April.

Condor confirmed in a recent press statement that flights to Thailand, South Africa, and Panama will increase in winter, driven by strong demand for long-haul travel.

Six days after a testy meeting between United States President Donald Trump and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, the U.S. Department of State issued an updated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution warning for the country, citing a rise in crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

“Violent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging,” the advisory reads.

Qantas has announced two new direct routes from Perth, to Johannesburg and to Auckland, from December 2025.

Already available to book, they add more than 155,000 seats in and out of Perth each year.

+ The inaugural Perth to Johannesburg flight is on December 7, 2025. QF65 will fly from Perth on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, with a flight time of about 11 hours, 15 minutes.

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Africa Travel Week invites tourism leaders to WTM Africa’s Responsible Tourism Conference on April 9-10 at Cape Town International Conference Centre.

Africa Travel Week is calling on tourism professionals to participate in WTM Africa’s Responsible Tourism Conference, scheduled for April 9-10 at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC).

Led by Harold Goodwin, Managing

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg reveals its exclusive Valentine’s Day offerings for 2025, inviting couples to celebrate love in one of the city’s most romantic settings. With an enchanting mix of breathtaking views, elegant dining, and indulgent spa experiences, Four Seasons has curated a suite of unforgettable events to honour the season of love in the grandest style.

Whether

While KwaZulu-Natal has indicated its desire to open up to investment in all-inclusive resorts (such as South Africa's first Club Med on the North Coast and Blue Marlin All-Inclusive Seascape, which recently opened on the South Coast), there are questions about the accessibility of these resorts for foreign tourists. To make these resorts truly attractive to the international community, KZN needs

SAA's first direct flight between Johannesburg and Lubumbashi departed OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) and landed at Luano International Airport (FBM) on Monday 4 November.

Airbus The A320 took off from Johannesburg at 10:50 and landed in Lubumbashi just over three hours later.

New route schedule of five weekly flights from Monday to Friday, caters for both direct and connecting

Emirates is expanding its services to South Africa with the launch of an additional daily flight to Johannesburg.

The airline will introduce a fourth daily flight on the route from 1 March 2025, bringing flight numbers back to the pre-pandemic level of 49 flights per week.

Flight EK768 will depart Johannesburg at 10:15 and arrive in Dubai at 20:15. Return flight EK767 will depart

The popular London-Cape Town route has just become busier with the arrival of Norse Atlantic Airways' first flight into the city on Tuesday 29 October.

Thrice-weekly seasonal flights will compete with permanent British flights Airways and seasonal Virgin Atlantic flights.

The sold-out flight landed late in Cape Town as the pilot took passengers on a scenic tour of the city before

Air Seychelles adds a fourth weekly flight to Johannesburg ahead of the busy festive season.

To meet growing demand, the carrier will add a fourth flight on Saturdays from 21 December to 4 January 2025. The return flight will also operate on Saturdays.

Flight HM1060 departs Johannesburg at 23:30 and arrives in Mahe at 06:15 the next day. Return flight HM1061 departs Mahe at 16:55